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BUCHANAN — The Buchanan City Commission is back to full strength after Monday’s appointment of Raquell George to fill the vacancy left by the resignation last month of Mayor Sean Denison. 

She will serve the remaining two years of Denison’s unexpired term through November, 2026.

     Denison resigned after a year of turmoil which included the hiring of a city manager who resigned after five months last fall, the censure of City Commissioner Dan Vigansky and competing recalls against both Denison and Vigansky. The Vigansky recall failed, but Denison was facing a November recall election against former City Commissioner Scott King.

     George at age 22 was the youngest of the three applicants interviewed by the commission last Friday and had the least experience in city government of the three. Others interviewed were restaurant owner and planning commission vice-chair Tony Houser and King.

George spoke Friday about her leadership experience both as a manager at McDonalds and as an office manager for the Niles Farm Bureau office. She has worked for six years and said her parents instilled a strong work ethic in her.

She said her work experience has taught her the importance of respecting others’ opinions and taking the time to listen. ‘It’s very important to look at all the different opinions,” she said during her interview. “I never belittle somebody for what they believe or think. I take the time to hear and understand and maybe agree to disagree.”

“I want to let everyone know how much I love Buchanan,” she added. “I truly want to see it do well and I want to see it thrive in the years and decades to come. I want it to be a place I can bring my kids and raise them because Buchanan is the best town.”

She said that while it may seem scary to take on the responsibilities of a city commissioner at her young age, she believes she’s ready to learn all she can to serve the city. “In the Bible it says that the younger people learn from the older people,” she said. “I feel like young people have to be ready to learn and be prepared.”

George sounded similar themes in the information she presented to the commission with her application. She said she wants to see the city flourish, bring in fresh ideas and hear the ideas/concerns of others. Her primary goal is to make sure Buchanan remains a “healthy, safe family friendly environment.”

“I am a firm believer Buchanan should remain the All American, Small Town Big Hearts, Beautiful city that it has always been,” she wrote. “… I want to see Buchanan grow. I want to see new businesses, less empty buildings, and more community events for the families and friends of this city. Something that will insure stability and a future for our beloved town.”

Monday’s appointment of George came as a surprise to some. Vigansky made the motion to appoint George and received a second from Commissioner Larry Money. There was no discussion and she was appointed on a unanimous vote with Mayor Mark Weedon and Commissioner Patrick Swem also voting yes.

George was then sworn in by City Clerk Kalla Langston and took her seat next to fellow commissioners.

Houser, who is also running for a full four-year term in November against Money, Swem and two other challengers, had appeared to be the favorite to get the appointment. Not only did three residents speak in support of Houser at the start of Monday’s meeting, the questions asked during the interviews Friday seemed to play to Houser’s strengths.

     The bulk of the questions from commissioners emphasized applicants’ actions over the last year which appeared to favor Houser who is the only one of the three currently active on local boards and committees and has come to nearly all city commission meetings over the last four years.

     In addition to owning a local restaurant and being on the planning commission, Houser is vice-chair of the Buchanan Preservation Society and is on the board of the Buchanan Area Senior Center and the Buchanan-Galien Lions Club. He previously was on the board of LiveBuchanan.

     In addition to George’s appointment to the commission, commissioners approved demolition specifications for the former Buchanan Feed Mill property at 111 Railroad St., a restaurant incentive grant for Haley Jones of “Chunk’s Ice Cream” and started the process to establish a new special assessment district for SMCAS.

     Community Development Director Rich Murphy reported to commissioners that the city has been assured by Berrien County officials that they will get a $220,000 grant from the County Land Bank to pay for the bulk of the demolition expenses.

     Murphy also reported on Jones’ request for a restaurant incentive grant. The program requires businesses to spend $17,000 or more to get a $10,000 grant. Jones has actually spent more than $49,000 to get Chunk’s up and running in the former Clark Equipment guard house.

With SMCAS, the commission will hold a public hearing on Sept. 23 to hear any objections to the forming of a special assessment district. Langston said the commission will have to act at two more meetings before Oct. 23 to get the special assessment on the upcoming winter taxes.

     She said the special assessment will be for five years with the per parcel or unit assessment rising from $40 this year to $45 next year and $50 for the remaining three years.